India's main opposition Congress party and a leading Christian organisation have strongly criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for recent remarks about the alleged occurrence of forced conversions to Christianity.

Prime Minister Vajpayee: Criticised some conversions`

Mr Vajpayee was quoted in the Indian media over the weekend as praising Christian groups for their work in neglected areas of the country - but also said that some of them abuse their position to carry out conversions.

Newspapers quote the prime minister making these comments at his house over the weekend during a function attended by leaders of the hardline Hindu organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The RSS is widely regarded to be the ideological force behind the BJP and its close affiliates have on several occasions accused Christian organisations of carrying out forced conversions.

Tension over alleged conversions by Christian organisations peaked about two years ago when Christian prayer centres were set on fire in the western state of Gujarat and an Australian missionary and his two sons were murdered in the eastern state of Orissa.